Zip fastener chain

ABSTRACT

A zip fastener chain comprised of a pair of stringer tapes of substantially endless length each having along their longitudinal edges alternate groups of fastener elements and element-free selvage portions. The groups of fastener elements are interconnected by a strip of water-soluble film, the arrangement being such that there may be provided a space or element-free portion on an individual fastener without having to remove those fastener elements off the tapes as in conventional practice.

United States Patent 1 1 Terada 1 May 8, 1973 1 ZIP FASTENER CHAIN [75] Inventor:

[73] Assignee: Yoshida Kogyo Kalrushiki Kaisha,

Tokyo, Japan [22] Filed: Mar. 29, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 239,140

Furnio Terada, Uozu, Japan [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. 5, 1971 Japan ..46/251 18 [52] US. Cl ..24/205 R, 29/1935, 161/48 [51] Int. Cl. ..A44b 19/12 [58] Field of Search ..24/205, 205.1 1 F; 29/1935, 408, 410; 161/48, 49

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,290,747 12/1966 Burbank ..24/205.l6C

3,482,292 12/1969 Frohlich ..24/20S.l I F Primary Examiner-Bernard A. Gelak Attorney-Robert E. Burns et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A zip fastener chain comprised of a pair of stringer tapes of substantially endless length each having along their longitudinal edges alternate groups of fastener elements and element-free selvage portions. The groups of fastener elements are interconnected by a strip of water-soluble film, the arrangement being such that there may be provided a space or element-free portion on an individual fastener without having to remove those fastener elements off.v the tapes as in conventional practice.

2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures ZIP FASTENER CHAIN This invention relates to improvements in and relating to a continuous chain of zip fastener tapes carrying thereon a series of interlocking fastener elements spaced lengthwise at predetermined intervals.

It is the usual practice of the zip fastener manufacturer to provide at first a continuous or substantially endless chain of stringer tapes and attach as by sewing thereon a similarly continuous chain of fastener elements to facilitate massive production of zip fasteners. Such instance, it has been necessary to remove some of the fastener elements off the stringers so as to provide thereon a space or an element-free section at such predetermined intervals that will define an individual standard fastener product length. Heretofore, special devices have been employed to remove fastener elements as required. Such operation, however, would often result in scratched or otherwise damaged stringer tapes, in loosened stitches on the stringers, and in deformed terminal ends of fastener elements that are prone to catch and damage a garment fabric.

A different type of fastener element chain is known which is provided with an elongated linear element portion or a spacer at intervals corresponding to the space or element-free section of stringer tapes. Such type of fastener element chain also cannot evade the abovenoted difficulties since it is ultimately necessary to remove the spacer portions of the fastener elements after the same has been sewn on stringer tapes.

Whereas, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved fastener chain which will eliminate the afore-mentioned difficulties of the conventional fastener chains. More specifically, the invention is directed to the provision of a zip fastener chain comprising a pair of stringer tapes of substantially endless length each having along their longitudinal edges alternate groups of fastener elements and element-free selvage portions, characterized in that said groups of fastener elements are interconnected by a film of a water-soluble material.

The above object and its related features of the invention will appear clear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a chain of interlocking fastener elements embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the element chain of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a chain of fastener stringers having attached thereon the fastener element chain of FIG. I; and

FIG. MS a plan view of a modification of FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings and to FIG. I in particular, there is shown a fastener element chain 10 which comprises serially interconnected double groups 10a, 10b, 10c and so on of interengaged interlocking fastener elements E. These elements are illustratively of a coil or a meandering form known in the art. Adjacent groups of elements are spaced a predetermined distance D apart from each other and interconnected at their terminal ends 11 by a spacer 12 comprising a thin film of a water-soluble material such as for example polyvinyl alcohols. This distance D corresponds to an element-free selvage portion 15 of stringer tape T as shown in FIG. 3.

As better shown in FIG. 2, there are used two of these spacers 12 according to one embodiment of the invention which span between ad acent element groups and which are laid the one over the front face 13 of the terminal end portions 11 and the other over the reverse face 14 thereof. More specifically, each spacer 12 is applied to cover one or more elements E at the terminal ends 11 of each element group 10a (10b or 10c) and bonded thereto either with an adhesive compound or by thermal fusion.

Advantageously, the spacer 12 can maintain the distance D correctly so that the elements E in each group are sewn stably along the longitudinal edges of opposed stringer tapes T in a fastener chain F.

Also advantageously, the spacer 12 being water-soluble can be easily removed in contact with water and thus completely placed out of sight. This may be conveniently accomplished when the fastener chain is immersed in a dyeing bath as in the usual practice.

FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of the invention in which the film spacer 12 is applied to a chain of single groups of fastener elements.

Having thus described the invention, it will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the specific fonn and construction herein advanced without departing from the scope of the appended claims. While the invention has been described with reference to the use of two pieces of film spacers 12, it will be obvious to apply a single piece of this spacer where fastener elements are relatively small.

What is claimed is:

l. A zip fastener chain comprising a pair of stringer tapes of substantially endless length each carrying along their longitudinal, edges alternate groups of fastener elements and element-free selvage portions, said groups of fastener elements being interconnected by a film of a water-soluble material.

2. A zip fastener chain as defined in claim 1 wherein said water-soluble material is a polyvinyl alcohol. 

1. A zip fastener chain comprising a pair of stringer tapes of substantially endless length each carrying along their longitudinal edges alternate groups of fastener elements and element-free selvage portions, said groups of fastener elements being interconnected by a film of a water-soluble material.
 2. A zip fastener chain as defined in claim 1 wherein said water-soluble material is a polyvinyl alcohol. 